Castles and Wine

Cycling through Alentejo

This picturesque bike tour in Portugal isall about discovery on two wheels. Your itinerary showcases castles, churches, artisans, wine producers, and typical family owned cafés by day, and accommodations in palaces, convents, castles, or lovely farms by night. The landscape is diverse and varied, from olive groves, vineyards, and cork oaks to granite, schist, and marble.

Your adventure begins in the small village of Arraiolos, famous for its embroidery (Tapetes Arraiolos) and leads you to beautiful Évora, an impressive medieval city classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. You will cycle toMonsaraz, the lovely white castledvillage with a panoramic view over the biggest artificial lake of Europe, and then through Terena and its impressive sanctuary.

The perfect finish to you vacation is Estremoz, the city of the"white gold", surrounded by an old protective wall.

Self-guided supplements:High season supplement twin/double: Standard: £50$78€52NOK520kr480$62Charm: £65$102€68NOK680kr628$82
High season single supplement:Standard: £301$474€316NOK3160kr2917$379Charm: £361$569€379NOK3790kr3498$455
Single supplement on all other dates: Standard: £231$365€243NOK2430kr2243$292Charm: £285$449€299NOK2990kr2760$359

Supported and Guided supplements:High season supplement twin/double: Standard: £50$78€52NOK520kr480$62Charm: £65$102€68NOK680kr628$82
High season single supplement: Standard: £301$474€316NOK3160kr2917$379Charm: £361$569€379NOK3790kr3498$455
Single supplement on all other dates:

(There will be additional charge for upgrade in July and August. Please ask us.)

extra options

E bike: £95$150€100NOK1000kr923$120

GPS Rental: £48$75€50NOK500kr462$60

Phone Rental: £10$15€10NOK100kr92$12

Transfers for self guided (price is per person)

Airport to first hotelGroups of two: £95$150€100NOK1000kr923$120Groups of four or more: £62$98€65NOK650kr600$78Last hotel to AirportGroups of two: £114$180€120NOK1200kr1108$144Groups of four or more: £67$105€70NOK700kr646$84

please note

Tour Dates

*Guided: September 9, October 14, and November 11, 2017Private guided dates are available for groups of two or more.**Supported: Arrival possible any day for groups of two or more people​Self-Guided: Arrival possible any day for groups of two or more people (July and August is not recommended as it is very hot!)

*Guided tours: Accompanied by one or two cycling guides and support vehicle. Driver will prepare picnic lunches, transfer luggage, and be available for support if needed.**Supported tours: Driver (who will also serve as guide) and van will be available at all times for support. The guide will stop at important and interesting places to give explanation or provide some history but will not cycle with group.

Skill Level

This is a moderate bike tour on slightly undulating, mostly paved roads. Average daily distances cycling between 22 and 35 miles (35 and 57 km).

Day 1: Individual arrival and transfer to ArraiolosUpon arrival to the airport, you will be transferred to Arraiolos, a lovely medieval village with a gorgeous castle. At 6 pm, you will have a tour briefing. For those who have booked a supported or guided tour, you will enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. Accommodations are according to level booked, either in a charming guest house (standard) or a 16th century convent (charm).

Day 2: Arraiolos - Evora, 22 or 26 mi. (35 or 42 km)Your destination today will be Arraiolos village, with its rich historical center and famous for its carpets and the delicious Pastéis de Toucinho. There will be an opportunity to visit a cheese farm and a winery for lunch. Riding past small farms through idyllic landscapes you will reach your final destination, finally riding in the ecotrail, a green lane built on top of an old railway. From the hilltop castle in Evora, you can see for miles! There are two possibilities for accommodations this evening. One is in a lovely guesthouse outside of Evora. Distance then will be 35 km. Another possibilities is a 4 star hotel in the historical center of Evora. Cycling distance will then be 42 km. Total ascent, 400 m.

Day 3: Cycling around Evora, 28 miles (45 km)Today you will have the opportunity to visit some of the most important megalithic monuments of the region. The landscape is lovely and filled with holm oak and cork trees. You will learn about the cork extraction and about the people that inhabited the region more than 5,000 years ago. Also, visit the Dolmen of Zambugeiro, one of the largest stone tombs in Europe. Also among the highlights are the Cromlech of Almendres and the roman ruins of Tourega. In the afternoon you cycle in the city of Évora and discover the amazing history of this beautiful city. You can visit the surreal Bone’s chapel and the impressive cathedral, originally from the 13th century. End the day with wine tasting in the Évora Wine Tour Shop. If your accommodations are the guesthouse, you will have a transfer in the beginning of the day. Total ascent, 500 m.

Day 4: Evora - Reguengos de Monsarez, 31 or 35 miles (50 or 57 km)Cycle along olive groves to reach the small and traditional village of Nossa Srª de Machede. Here you should stop at a local café for a drink, visit the leather factory and an when in season, an olive mill to see how olive oil is made. Also cycle past Castle of Valongo and visit a cheese factory in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Arriving to Reguengos de Monsaraz, you still have plenty of time for some wine tasting in a gorgeous traditional winery where they still store their wine in old clay pots. If accommodations are the guesthouse, distance will be 57 km. Total ascent, 500 m.

Day 5: Reguengos to Monsaraz, 22 miles (35 km)Today, visit the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval. Here, you can see the men working the clay, transforming it into beautiful pots and plates, and the ladies painting them with flowers. Conquer the climb to the gorgeous village of Monsaraz, built in a castle on top of a hill. Monsaraz a beautiful view over the lake of the Alqueva dam, the largest artificial lake of Europe. After a hard climb, you can relax by the lake and enjoy a picnic lunch. Total ascent, 380 m.

Day 6: Monsaraz to Vila Viçosa, 31 miles (50 km)Today you leave behind the schist land and discover the marble kingdom. The route begins with a gentle rolling hills. Along the way, visit the impressive sanctuary of Nossa Srª da Boa Nova and the flowery village of Terena. You will pass the marble quarries of Bencatel area with its moon-like landscape. From here, the white goldwas extracted to build gorgeous cities such as Estremoz and Borba. We arrive at Vila Viçosa, a favorite resting place for many kings whose noble subjuects built beautiful manor houses in the area. Total ascent, 680 m.

Day 7: Vila Viçosa to Estemoz, 22 miles (35 km)The day begins with a visit to the marble museum in Vila Viçosa, and the ducal palace, followed by pedaling to Borba. In Borba, you can visit one of those typical local cafés where the wine served is produced in the clay pots that also decorate the space. All of the wine served is locally produced. You will ride through some typical villages where you can stop for traditional "petiscos" (local snacks) for lunch. The route then leads to Gloria, where you will visit the Church of Nossa Srª dos Martires, a marble gothic church. Arriving to Estremoz, you will be impressed by the beautiful architecture and the imposing tower of the castle which will be your accommodation for the night! Theres is a possibility to eliminate some of these climbs by paying a small supplement fee. Total ascent, 680 m.

Day 8: Departure

Check out this video to see some of the breath-taking sights Portugal has to offer!

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Pricing Information

Travel Details

Travel

Fly to Lisbon.

Local Travel

From Lisbon airport, take a taxi to the bus station, Sete Rios, or the train station, Oriente. A taxi from departures (not arrivals) is recommended for better service. From the bus station, travel to Alvito is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. From the train station, travel to Alvito is approximately 2 hours with one change in Casa Branca. A private transfer can also be arranged at an additional cost. Please see pricing.

Climate

Check local conditions prior to arrival. Average high/low temperature for the area in degrees Fahrenheit: May 70/52º, June 79/58º, September 81/60º, and October 71/54º.

Tour Operator

This tour is operated by Portugal Best Cycling. We do not run these tours ourselves, we never have. We work on commission from our local partners plus a small administration fee of €20. We pride ourselves on the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.

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